Freestanding pet barrier

Abstract

A self-supporting pet barrier comprising a front panel and two side panels, each panel having floor-contacting surfaces preferably to which a friction reducing substance has been applied is disclosed. The front and side panels preferably are attached so that the side panels can be positioned from generally perpendicularly to the front panel in use to a folded position adjacent said front panel for storage or travel. A generally triangular stabilizing leg may protrude forward from the plane of the front panel and can be attached in either the side panel or front panel.

1. A self-supporting pet barrier, comprising:
 a front barrier comprising a circumferential frame defining an open space interrupted by substantially vertical members with only the substantially vertical members in a central three-fifths portion of the open space, wherein the open space is further interrupted by at least one substantially horizontal member in a bottom or top one-fifth of the open space; 
 a first side barrier configured to be rotatably coupled to the front barrier at one of a plurality of angles; 
 a second side barrier configured to be rotatably coupled to the front barrier at one of a plurality of angles; and 
 the front barrier, the first side barrier, and the second side barrier are configured to be coupled together to form an open configuration to stabilize the self-supporting pet barrier without securing the pet barrier to a structure external to the self-supporting pet barrier, wherein a plan view of the front barrier, the first side barrier, and the second side barrier in the open configuration defines a non-enclosing figure. 
 
     
     
       2. The self-supporting pet barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the open space is interrupted by a substantially horizontal member in both the bottom and top one-fifth of the open space. 
     
     
       3. The self-supporting pet barrier of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially horizontal members and the substantially vertical members are wires. 
     
     
       4. The self-supporting pet barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the front barrier has a height of 65 cm or less. 
     
     
       5. The self-supporting pet barrier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one leg coupled to one of the front barrier, the first side barrier, and the second side barrier and configured to assist with maintaining the self-supporting pet barrier to stand upright in use but is not configured to obstruct a path of a house pet, wherein the front barrier has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side barrier and the second side barrier are configured to extend beyond the front barrier on the first side of the front barrier in the open configuration and the at least one leg is configured to extend beyond the front barrier on the second side of the front barrier in the open configuration. 
 
     
     
       6. The self-supporting pet barrier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gate formed in the front barrier and attached thereto by at least one hinge and a lock, wherein the gate is configured to rotate on the at least one hinge upon release of the lock so that a pet can pass through the gate. 
 
     
     
       7. The self-supporting pet barrier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second front barrier, 
 wherein the first side barrier is configured to be coupled to a portion of the front barrier, wherein the second side barrier is configured to be coupled to a portion of the second front barrier, and wherein the second front barrier is configured to be coupled to the front barrier such that a distance between the portion of the front barrier and the portion of the second front barrier is adjustable. 
 
     
     
       8. A self-supporting pet barrier, comprising:
 a first front barrier comprising a circumferential frame; 
 a second front barrier comprising a circumferential frame; 
 a first side barrier, the first side barrier configured to be rotatably coupled to a first portion of the first front barrier at one of a plurality of angles; 
 a second side barrier, the second side barrier configured to be rotatably coupled to a second portion of the second front barrier at one of a plurality of angles; 
 the first front barrier configured to be coupled to the second front barrier to allow adjustment of an extent to which the first front barrier and the second front barrier overlap such that a distance between the first portion of the first front barrier and the second portion of the second front barrier is adjustable; 
 the first and second front barriers and the first and second side barriers are configured to be coupled together in an open configuration in use to stabilize the self-supporting pet barrier without securing the self-supporting pet barrier to a structure external to the self-supporting pet barrier, wherein a plan view of the first front barrier, the second front barrier, the first side barrier, and the second side barrier in the open configuration defines a non-enclosing figure. 
 
     
     
       9. The self-supporting pet barrier according to  claim 8 , wherein the distance between the first portion of the first front barrier and the second portion of the second front barrier is configured to be adjustable in steps with physical features of the first and second front barriers. 
     
     
       10. The self-supporting pet barrier according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a leg directly connected to only one of the first front barrier, the second front barrier, the first side barrier, and the second side barrier and configured to assist with maintaining the self-supporting pet barrier to stand upright in use but is not configured to obstruct a path of a house pet. 
 
     
     
       11. The self-supporting pet barrier according to  claim 8 , wherein the circumferential frames of the first and second front barriers define open spaces interrupted by substantially vertical members, wherein the open space of one of the first and second front barriers is further interrupted by a horizontal member in a bottom or top one fifth of the open space of the one of the first and second front barriers. 
     
     
       12. The self-supporting pet barrier according to  claim 11 , wherein the open spaces of the first and second front barriers are further interrupted by substantially horizontal members in only a bottom or top one-fifth of the open spaces. 
     
     
       13. The self-supporting pet barrier according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first front barrier, the second front barrier, the first side barrier, and the second side barrier have a height of 65 cm or less. 
     
     
       14. A self-supporting pet barrier, comprising:
 a front barrier comprising a circumferential frame; 
 a first side barrier configured to be rotatably coupled to the front barrier at one of a plurality of angles; 
 a second side barrier configured to be rotatably coupled to the front barrier at one of a plurality of angles; and 
 a gate formed in the front barrier, wherein the gate is configured to open so that a pet can pass through the gate; 
 the front barrier, the first side barrier, and the second side barrier are configured to be coupled together to form an open configuration to stabilize the self-supporting pet barrier without securing the pet barrier to a structure external to the barrier, wherein a plan view of the front barrier, the first side barrier, and the second side barrier in the open configuration defines a non-enclosing figure. 
 
     
     
       15. The self-supporting pet barrier according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 at least one leg coupled to one of the front barrier, the first side barrier, and the second side barrier and configured to assist with maintaining the self-supporting pet barrier to stand upright in use but is not configured to obstruct a path of a house pet, wherein the leg extends from the front barrier. 
 
     
     
       16. The self-supporting pet barrier according to  claim 14 , wherein the front barrier comprises a first front barrier and a second front barrier, the first front barrier configured to be coupled to the second front barrier such that a total width of the first and second front barriers is adjustable. 
     
     
       17. The self-supporting pet barrier according to  claim 14 , wherein the circumferential frame defines an open space that is interrupted by substantially vertical members with only the substantially vertical members in a central three-fifths portion of the open space, wherein the open space is further interrupted by a substantially horizontal member in a bottom or top one-fifth of the open space. 
     
     
       18. The self-supporting pet barrier according to  claim 17 , wherein the frame is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
       19. The self-supporting pet barrier according to  claim 14 , wherein the front barrier has a height of 65 cm or less. 
     
     
       20. The self-supporting pet barrier according to  claim 14 , wherein the gate is configured to open to permit a person to pass through the front barrier without having to step over the self-supporting pet barrier.